Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

Game apparatus including a game board with a plurality of receptacles therein, and a plurality of sets of playing pieces, each set having a plurality of like playing pieces. The playing pieces fit in the receptacles in the game board, and each set of playing pieces has a different geometrically shaped portion on one side thereof than the other sets and a handle on the opposite side. The game is played by selecting two of the playing pieces from the game board, examining them to determine if like ones have been selected then replacing them if not, or retaining them if matched.

United States Patent Hincz 14 1 July 18, 1972 54] BOARD GAME APPARATUS 1,077,865 11/1913 Atkins ..273/134 AD [72] Inventor: i207 Farmstead, Primary Examiner nelben B Lowe Att0rneyFred P. Kostka [22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 85,926 [57] ABSTRACT Game apparatus includi game board with a plurality of l 52] U 130 R receptacles therein, and urality of sets of playing pieces, [51] In. I each set having a plurality oflike y g es. The p y g 0 pieces fit in the receptacles in the game b0 and each set of [58] Field of Search 273/130, 135, 136, playing ieces has a difierent geometrically shaped portion on one sid ereof than the other sets and a handle on the op- [56] References Cited posite side. The game is played by selecting two of the pla UNTTED STATES PATENTS pieces from the game board, examining them to determin like ones have been selected then replacing them if not, or 2 15/192: $182111 ..27 3/;30/l1{UX retaining them ifmatchei 363,146 87 Kyle /1 6 Clairm, 3 Drawing figures @[IEIEIEJEIEQJIEEIEEIHE @EEEIEHQEI@@EI@ @EIQEIEIEHEHEJEEI @@@@[=H|@E J@@ @@@EJ@@@EHJ @@@@13@ JE1E11| EJE|IHEE1EIEJEI @[EEIEHEJEIEIEIELJEI EHEHEEEHDJEEEHEHE @EEHEIQIEEEIEEH a m d \v 1/10 5070 'f/ OMOS W, MA/J'Z ,QIMQ/Z/EY @EEEQEEEEE EEEEEEE MEE EEEEEEZMIM M:W@@@E@@@@ M @@@E@@@@ @@@@E@@@@@ @@@@E@@@@@ @@@@@@E@E@ @H@@@@E@E;m

Patented July 18,, 1972 BOARD GAME APPARATUS Numerous memory stimulating and figure recall games are known in the prior art. These prior art games use complicated devices to display pairs of pictures, sketches, figures, numbers or the like in particular positions in a vertical rack then allow the players to selectively turn the pictures or whatever in order to find a matching pair. Other prior art games and devices known in the prior art display to the player a number of pictures or the like then require them to match the combination and arrangement on a separate display. These prior art devices have the disadvantage that only a small quantity of different pictures or the like can be displayed and the game is only playable by one who can see well and has the ability to distinguish specific details. These games would be impossible for a blind or nearly blind person to play.

In one preferred specific embodiment of this invention, a cross match game includes a game board having a quantity of sets of playing pieces adapted to fit in receptacles in the game board. The playing pieces have a geometrical shape on one side. thereof and a means to be picked up by fingers on the other side and they are provided in matched pairs and in several different colors. The game board is preferably square in shape with one hundred receptacles therein arranged in a square pattern. The playing pieces are preferably square shaped with the geometrical shape raised from one side thereof with a handle on the other side and adapted to fit in the receptacles with the handle up so that the geometrical shape is hidden. The sets of playing pieces are preferably differently colored in five groups of twenty pieces. The game is preferably played by placing a quantity of paired sets of playing pieces in the receptacles of the game board with the shaped side down; then a player selects a playing piece, examines it then picks another; if he picks the other member of the paired set, a match is obtained and the player takes his turn. The player must expose the playing pieces so all the players can examine them, thus for a player to remember where specifically shaped playing pieces are placed is of prime importance as the game progresses.

One object of this invention is to provide a cross match game overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Still one other object of this invention is to provide a game board structure having a quantity of receptacles therein adapted to hold a quantity of playing pieces therein, and a game which can be played by blind persons and other persons.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a game using a quantity of matched sets of playing pieces which have a geometrical shape formed on one surface thereof and a handle on the opposite surface and are adapted to be placed in the receptacles with the geometric shape hidden from view of the players.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a game played using a quantity of pairs of playing pieces wherein a player selects a piece, examines it, by sight or by feeling it, then picks another and examines it. If he obtains a pair he takes another turn. If he does not obtain a pair he is finished and the next player takes a turn selecting playing pieces, the game continuing until the game board is cleared of playing pieces.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the game board with a quantity of playing pieces placed in the receptacles positioned with the geometrically shaped portion thereof upward and shown without coloration;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the game board with a lesser quantity of playing pieces placed in the receptacles and arranged in a diamond shaped pattern with the geometrically shaped portions thereof upward; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the game board taken on line 33 of FIG. 2 showing an open receptacle and a receptacle with a playing piece therein.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new cross match game of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 2, the cross match game of this invention, indicated generally at 10, is shown with a plurality of playing pieces 12 therein arranged in a diamond shaped pattern in the game board 14. The game 10 includes the game board 14 with a plurality of receptacles 16 formed therein and a quantity of playing pieces 12 comprised of pairs of playing pieces with like geometric shapes on one side thereof.

The game board 14 includes preferably 100, receptacles 16 arranged in a closely spaced square pattern. The receptacles 16 are integrally formed in the game board 14 and are adapted to receive and hold the playing pieces 12 with the geometrical shaped portion thereof enclosed in the game board structure and substantially hidden from the players view. The game board 14 preferably has a square planform as shown in the drawings and is preferably constructed in three portions. The game board has a bottom member 20, top member 22 and an inner spacing portion 24. The bottom member 20 and top member 22 have the same exterior size and shape; however, the bottom portion has no apertures therethrough and the top portion has square apertures therethrough which form the upper portions of the receptacles 16. The inner portion 24 separates the top 22 and bottom 20* members of the game board 14 and provides support for the playing pieces 12. The inner portion is comprised of a quantity of elongated members 26 positioned parallelly between columns of apertures in the top member 22. The elongated members 26 overlap the connecting portions of the top member 22 between the apertures as shown in detail in FIG. 3. These overlapping portions of the elongated members 26 define ledges which support the play ing pieces 12 at their opposite edges as shown.

The playing pieces 12 are all preferably constructed substantially identical in size with a body portion 30, a handle 32 and a raised geometrically shaped portion 34. The body 30 of the playing pieces is sized to easily fit into and slip from the apertures of the top member 22; it is preferably square in shape and sufficiently large enough so it rests on edges of the elongated members 26. The handle 32 is preferably the means to pick up the playing pieces; it is a loop or the like as shown in the drawings extending from the normally upper surface of the playing pieces 12; its purpose is to provide a place for a player to easily grasp the playing pieces 12. The geometrically shaped portion 34 of the playing piece preferably extends from body 30 of the playing pieces a sufficient distance that it can be distinguished by feel or sight from the body portion 30 and can easily be distinguished from the shape of other playing pieces. It is to be noted that the playing pieces 12 can be constructed with the geometrical shape formed indented into the body portion 30 thereof or in any other manner which would enable a person to determine by feel or sight the geometrical shape thereon. The playing pieces 12 are constructed in pairs with each pair having substantially identical geometrically shaped portions 34 while the body portion 30 and handle 32 are substantially identical for all the playing pieces. The preferred specific shapes of the geometrical portions 34 are those shown in FIG. 1. These shapes represent substantially different alphabetical and geometrical shapes that in practice have been found to be easily distinguished by feel or sight. I00, playing pieces are shown in FIG. 1. These particular playing pieces all have been found in practice to be the easiest distinguished yet having some like characteristics. It is to be noted that other shaped geometrical portions 34 will function similarly and this invention is not to be restricted to only the specific geometric shapes shown. Additionally the playing pieces 12 preferably have the geometrical portion 34 thereof colored to aid in distinguishing by sight that portion from the body portion 30. In the preferred 100, playing pieces 12 they are colored in five, separate groups of 20, by pairs or groups of pairs. It is to be noted that the cross match game of this invention is not to be limited to playing with pairs of playing pieces; it can be played similarly with sets of playing pieces comprised of a greater number of matched geometrical shapes than two, such as three, four, etc. The five color groups of 10 pairs of playing pieces 12 are each given a color substantially different from the other groups, for instance red, blue, green, brown and yellow have been found in practice to be satisfactory.

The game 10 can preferably be played by from one, to four, persons. It is to be noted that blind persons as well as others can play the game, due to the geometrically shaped portions of the playing pieces 12. Persons above the age of eight, years have been found in practice as usually having the understanding and ability to successfully play the game 10. Those younger than eight, years of age have been found to become overly fascinated with the shapes and the playing pieces as play things or the like and they lose comprehension of it as a game. The game 10 also can be played by more than four, people playing in teams or individually. Rules for playing the game 10 are not herein specifically defined, only the objectives of playing the game are to be noted. The prime objective of the game 10 is to obtain pairs or matches of the playing pieces 12 by selecting one, then selecting another, and comparing the two playing pieces. An inherent objective of the game 10 is to remember where on the game board 14 the particular playing pieces 12 are located so picking two which match can be done more easily.

The preferred playing of the cross match game 10 of this invention is described as follows. First, the playing pieces 12 are placed in the receptacles 16 on the game board 14 with the geometrically shaped portion down in the receptacle in a random fashion so the pairs of playing pieces 12 will have no ordered arrangement. It is to be noted the number of playing pieces 12 placed on the game board 14 must be even and they must be paired; however, not all the playing pieces need be placed on the board 14; the game 10 can be played with practically any even number of playing pieces 12. For instance if not all the preferred 100, playing pieces 12 are desired to be used, a lesser number can be placed on the board as in the arrangement of 60, playing pieces shown in FIG. 2. ,With the playing pieces 12 in place on the game board 14 one player starts the game by taking his turn selecting two, playing pieces and examining them to determine if they match. Examining the playing pieces can be done by feeling them for blind persons or just looking at them for others or both. If the selected pieces match, the player sets them aside to his credit for having obtained a match; then that player takes another turn at selecting a matched pair of playing pieces 12 as his bonus for selecting the pair of matching pieces. If the selected playing pieces do not match, then the player lets the other players examine them then places them back in the respective receptacles 16 from which they came and the next player takes his turn. The players keep taking turns at selecting matches of the playing pieces 12 until all the playing pieces 12 are taken from the game board 14. The winner of the game is the player or team of players having the largest number of pairs of playing pieces to his credit. After the game the playing pieces can be placed back in the receptacles 16 of the game board 14 for a subsequent game.

in the manufacture of the cross match game 10 of this invention, it is obvious that the game board 14 and playing pieces can be constructed from wood or molded plastic materials sufficiently strong to support sustained use in playing the cross match game 10 by children and adults. I

In the use and operation of the cross match game 10 of this invention it is seen that same provides a durable structure due to the substantially solid construction of the game board 14 and the playing pieces 12. The cross match game 10 is playable by both blind persons and others and can be successfully played by some children as well as adults.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of the cross match game, relatively inexpensive means have been provided for playing the cross match game and the cross match game provided is both entertaining and stimulating. The cross match game structure is easy to manufacture and can be used over and over by persons playing with it. The cross match game can be played by children and adults alike and also by blind persons as well as other persons for entertainment and stimulation of their memory and perception of shapes by sight and feel.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A cross match game comprising a. A game board means having a multiplicity of receptacles of even number and arranged in a rectangular pattern, said game board means having a top member including a plurality of apertures corresponding to the number of receptacles and defining the upper portions of said receptacles, a bottom member adapted to form a supporting surface for said game board means and inner spacing means located between said upper member and said lower member and defining ledges projecting into said receptacles,

. a multiplicity of playing pieces,

c. said multiplicity of playing pieces including a plurality of pairs having like geometrical shapes on one side surface portion thereof and each of said playing pieces having handles on the side surface opposite the surface having said geometrical shape thereon by which said pieces can be picked up with the fingers.

d. said playing pieces each having a body portion with the geometrical shape on said one side surface and the geometrical shape on each pair being significantly different from that on any one of the other pairs of playing pieces, and

said body portions of said playing pieces dimensional to be supported on said ledges with said geometrical shape enclosed from sight within said receptacle.

2. The cross match game as described in claim 1, wherein:

a. said apertures are square in planform shape and said body portions of said playing pieces are square in shape,

b. said game board means has said receptacles arranged in a square closely spaced pattern containing one hundred of said receptacles, and

c. said cross match game has fifty pairs of said playing pieces.

3. A cross match game comprising a. a game board means having upper sheet means defining an upper surface vertically spaced from a lower sheet means defining a lower surface,

b. a multiplicity of receptacles formed in said game board means with each of said receptacles including an aperture and a pair of ledges disposed between said upper surface and said lower surface and projecting into said apertures to provide substantially coplanar support surfaces; and

c. a plurality of playing pieces;

d. said playing pieces each having a body portion dimensioned to be supportable in one of said receptacles on said ledges;

e. a geometrical shape on one side of said body portion;

f. said body portion being manually positionable in said receptacle and supported on said ledges with said geometrical shape selectively hidden from view or exposed to view;

g. said playing pieces being arranged into a number of groups having a plurality of different pairs of like geometrical shapes;

h. said number of groups of different pairs of like geometrical shapes being distinguished one from the other by a different coloring on one of said sides of said body portion whereby said game may be adapted to be played with a selected number of said groups.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said apertures is of rectangular contour, and wherein said body portion of each of said pieces is of rectangular contour complementary to said rectangular aperture, and said geometrical shape projects from said one side and is accommodated between said upper and lower sheet means when said body portion is supported on said ledges with said geometrical shape hidden from view, and extending above said upper surface of said game board means when said body portion is sup ported on said ledges with said geometrical shape exposed to view.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said groups contains at least 10 pairs of like geometric shapes.

6. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said game includes five differently colored groups of playing pieces, and each of said groups contains at least 10 pairs of like geometric shapes, and wherein said game board means includes a sufficient number of receptacles to accommodate the total number of game pieces. 

1. A cross match game comprising a. A game board means having a multiplicity of receptacles of even number and arranged in a rectangular pattern, said game board means having a top member including a plurality of apertures corresponding to the number of receptacles and defining the upper portions of said receptacles, a bottom member adapted to form a supporting surface for said game board means and inner spacing means located between said upper member and said lower member and defining ledges projecting into said receptacles, b. a multiplicity of playing pieces, c. said multiplicity of playing pieces including a plurality of pairs having like geometrical shapes on one side surface portion thereof and each of said playing pieces having handles on the side surface opposite the surface having said geometrical shape thereon by which said pieces can be picked up with the fingers. d. said playing pieces each having a body portion with the geometrical shape on said one side surface and the geometrical shape on each pair being significantly different from that on any one of the other pairs of playing pieces, and e. said body portions of said playing pieces dimensional to be supported on said ledges with said geometrical shape enclosed from sight within said receptacle.
 2. The cross match game as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said apertures are square in planform shape and said body portions of said playing pieces are square in shape, b. said game board means has said receptacles arranged in a square closely spaced pattern containing one hundred of said receptacles, and c. said cross match game has fifty pairs of said playing pieces.
 3. A cross match game comprising a. a game board means having upper sheet means defining an upper surface vertically spaced from a lower sheet means defining a lower surface, b. a multiplicity of receptacles formed in said game board means with each of said receptacles including an aperture and a pair of ledges disposed between said upper surface and said lower surface and projecting into said apertures to provide substantially coplanar support surfaces; and c. a plurality of playing pieces; d. said playing pieces each having a body portion dimensioned to be supportable in one of said receptacles on said ledges; e. a geometrical shape on one side of said body portion; f. said body portion being manually positionable in said receptacle and supported on said ledges with said geometrical shape selectively hidden from view or exposed to view; g. said playing pieces being arranged into a number of groups having a plurality of different pairs of like geometrical shapes; h. said number of groups of different pairs of like geometrical shapes being distinguished one from the other by a different coloring on one of said sides of said body portion whereby said game may be adapted to be played with a selected number of said groups.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said apertures is of rectangular contour, and wherein said body portion of each of said pieces is of rectangular contour complementary to said rectangular aperture, and said geometrical shape projects from said one side and is accommodated between said upper and lower sheet means when said body portion is supported on said ledges with said geometrical shape hidden from view, and extending above said upper surface of said game board means when said body portion is supported on said ledges with said geometrical shape exposed to view.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said groups contains at least 10 pairs of like geometric shapes.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said game includes five differently colored groups of playing pieces, and each of said groups contains at least 10 pairs of like geometric shapes, and wherein said game board means includes a sufficient number of receptacles to accommodate the total number of game pieces. 